System and Method for Controlling Access to a Private Marketplace on Supply Chain Network

Abstract

A method for controlling access to a supply chain including receiving, on a supply chain network server, a user request identifying a product or service, and in response to the user request, causing a user interface to display information about the product or service that includes identification information about two or more distinct sources for the product or service, the two or more distinct sources including no more than i) a host of the supply chain network server; and ii) a provider associated with a user-specific account.

1 . A method for controlling access to a supply chain comprising:
 receiving, on a supply chain network server, a user request identifying a product or service; and   in response to the user request, causing a user interface to display information about the product or service that includes identification information about two or more distinct sources for the product or service, the two or more distinct sources including no more than i) a host of the supply chain network server; and ii) a provider associated with a user-specific account,   wherein the information about the product or service further includes a) a first condition for acquisition of the product or service preselected by the host of the supply chain network server, and b) a second condition for acquisition of the product or service preselected by the provider associated with the user-specific account.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying the first condition proximate identification information of the host of the supply chain network server; and 
 simultaneously with the displaying of the first condition, displaying the second condition proximate identification information of the provider associated with user-specific account information. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 prior to causing the display of the identification information about the provider associated with the user-specific account, displaying on the user interface a prompt to associate the user-specific account with the provider. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the prompt includes one or more of: a drop-down menu, a dialog box, a login screen and an icon. 
     
     
         6 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 storing in a database, coupled to the supply chain network server, the first condition for acquisition of the product or service and the second condition for acquisition of the product or service; 
 verifying, via the supply chain network server, that the provider is authorized to change the second condition for acquisition; 
 receiving, via the supply chain network server, an updated second condition for acquisition; and 
 storing in the database coupled to the supply chain network server, the updated second condition for acquisition; 
 wherein causing the user interface to display information about the product or service includes displaying the second condition for acquisition. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the second condition for acquisition includes at least one of: a price, a discount code, prescription information, refill information, usage instructions, a user acknowledgement selection, and third party payer information. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the requested product or service is at least one of: a pharmaceutical product that requires a prescription, a product that does not require a prescription, digital media, or a telemedicine session. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the supply chain network server, user account data that includes information regarding one or more designated providers associated with one or more pets.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 in response to the user request, causing the user interface to display information about the product or service that includes identification information about an additional source for the product or service wherein the identification information is displayed in a manner that indicates the user is not authorized to obtain the product or service from the additional source.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the provider is associated with the user-specific account based upon a previous transaction between the provider and one or more of an individual associated with the user-specific account and a pet associated with the user-specific account. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the previous transaction includes i) writing of a prescription; ii) a transaction for the purchase of a good or service that is unrelated to the requested product or service; iii) a registration with the provider; and iv) obtaining an authorization code. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is coupled to a user device connected to the supply chain network server by one of a wide area network connection and a local area network connection. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first condition has a first value and second condition has a second value and first value is different from the second value. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first condition has a first value and second condition has a second value and first value is the same as the second value. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving, at the supply chain network server, an order designating the selection of the provider as the source to provide the product or service; and 
 verifying, via the supply chain network server, that a prescription for the ordered product or service has been received for the product or service and the prescription is associated with the user specific account. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving, on the supply chain network server, a selection message indicating the provider associated with the user-specific account is a preferred source; and 
 upon receiving, on the supply chain network server, a future user request identifying an additional product or service, causing the user interface to display the provider as a default primary provider for the additional product or service. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising:
 prior to causing the user interface to display the provider as a default primary provider for the additional product or service, verifying that the default primary provider has pre-selected the product or service for inclusion in a provider virtual marketplace. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving on the supply chain server an indication that a new user and an authorized provider are associated with a transaction initiated on a separate network coupled to the supply chain network; and 
 in response to receive the indication, creating a user record for the new user via the supply chain network server and associated the authorized provider with the user record. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving an order placement request, on the supply chain network server, for a product to be sourced from the provider, the product requiring a prescription; 
 querying a database, via the supply chain network server, to verify that a valid prescription with sufficient refills have been associated with the order placement request; 
 recording in the database, an indication that inventory associated with the order has been transferred from a wholesale inventory associated with the supply chain network server to a retail inventory of the provider; 
 receiving, in the database, an indication that the product has been shipped; and 
 transmitting to a provider server, from the supply chain network server, a transaction message including information relating to provider product inventory status and a net proceeds transactions summary indicating a difference between accrued amounts associated with inventory transferred from the wholesale inventory associated with the supply chain network server and accrued amounts associated with orders, to be sourced from the provider, that were placed with the supply chain network server. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the user request includes one or more of: i) a search request; ii) selection via a menu; iii) a selection via hyperlink; and iv) selection via hyperlink in a digital message from a provider.